Graining machine



June 2, 1931. G E, LANG ET AL 1,807,992y

' GRAINING MACHINE original Filed sept. 11, 192e 2 sheetssheet 1 S CSD 85 IO .A

@i W4 e I @l 94. o L

l 31a/venten @d un af www, 7mm/MM, aha/w @www June'2, 1931. GJE. ,LANG l-:T AL 1,807,992

' GRAINING MACHINE original Filed sept. 11, 192e 2 sheets-sheet 2 JF'IG.- Z

I ff/ZW y ab J ffez, www, MM @my @Hentai Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES A15aiila.1\i'iorricr;

GEORGE n. LANG AND LLOYD v. oasTO, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AssIeNoas To Oxronn -VABNISH CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A.

OOBPORATION or moment cm1-Nine Encarna' y original application mensa-piemel: 11, 1926, serial N6. 134,807. niviiiea andinia application inea april ao, 192s. seriai No. 271,533.

This invention is concerned with a transfer machine suitable as a graining machine, wherein a pattern roll carrying an arcuate etched plate, cooperateswith a transfer roll b and work supporting roll to effect an impression on a blank, simulating wood or other graining.` The process used is similar to the well known photogravure process. Ylhe present application is a division of ourprior 1o application, Serial No. 134,807, led September 11, 1926. Reference is also directed to our copending divisional application Serial No. 271,532, filed April 20, 1928.

The general obj ect is to provide a machine by which the transfer of the pattern from the pattern roll to the blank may be expeditiously effected irrespective' of pronounced variations' in the cross section ofthe blank.

. A further Objectis to provide a machine wherein two of the rolls may be synchronously driven to insure accurate printingl on the blank irrespective of radial displacement of one of the rolls with reference to an adj `a cent roll. c Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from* the following description relating to the accompanyingV drawings, wherein we show our preferred form. The essential novel characteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawin Fig. 1 is a side elevation' of a machine em odying the novel Yfeatures of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a substantially central cross sectional view of the entire machine, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view as indicated by the line 3-3 on Fig. 1.

In the parent application there shown a similar arrangement of rolls suitable but not essential forthe, present machine, which arrangement comprises a. pattern roll at the top; a transfer roll in contact therewith beneath the pattern roll; and a backing roll or blank supporting roll in spaced relation to it the transfer roll and mounted therebeneath.

In Figs. l and 2, we show our machineas comprising upright frame members 12 and 13 secured in spaced relation by cross frame members 14, and a top cross bridge member 16. Suspended from the cross frame memb er 16 is a bearing frame 18 upon which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings (not shown) the etched pattern roll 20.. Beneath the etched pattern roll is a transfer roll 21 formed of suitable resilient transfer material and supported by bearing blocks 15, one

being shown in Fig. 3, these being secured to the frame members 12 and13. Below the transfer roll and in spaced relation .thereto is a backing or work supporting roll 22, over which the blank (such as B) passes, this roll being supported as will be hereinafter described.

'lhe bearing bracket 18 which carries the etched pattern roll 20 1s suspended on suitable, screw members 24 (one only being shown) which extend through suitable openings formed in the top member 16, and the screw members are engaged by adjusting wheels 25 whereby the pattern roll may `be adjusted relative to the transfer roll 21. Suitable securingy means, such as bolts 18 extending through vertical slots (not shown) formed in the bearing bracket 18, serve to secure the latter in adjusted position on the machine frame.

The rolls may be driven from a motor 30 through a worm gear shown conventionally As shown, a sprocketwheel 32 is mounted on the wornr gear shaft 33, which drives a chain 35 extending over a sprocket 34 drivingly rigid on one end of the transfer roll shaft 26. An' idlerV roll 40 carried by an adjustably mounted bracket 41 secured to the side member 12 serves to take up the slack in the chain 35.

It is desired frequently to transfer the pattern or grain effect to work which is irregutel soy

and work -constructed of metal and having means permitting a surfaces which are not flat. To pro erly support such work as it passes through the machine and to maintain it infuniform contact with the transfer roll throughout the width yof the roll, we provide the backing or work supporting roll 22 which is mounted upon floating bearings carried by the side frame members 12 and 13. This roll may have a resilient body with reliefs or indentations as shown if desired to provide for irregular back surfaces. In. the present arrangement as distinguished from that* ofthe p-arent application, and that of the co-pending divisional application above referred to, the Ytransfer roll and backing or work supporting roll are positively connected for synchronous rotation by considerable displacement of the axis of the backing roll with relation to the-axis of-the transfer roll, while allowing the axes to remain parallel, or. to be relatively inclined a considerable amount. This permits the machine to operate on a blank which varies greatly in transverse cross section.

The present arrangement is similar to the "parent application in that the machine is "etched plate,

adapted for use with a pattern roll having a.

continuous design, by which we mean that the pattern roll carries a pattern such as an the meeting ends of which match in suchmanner that there is no beginning or ending of the pattern. This being true, it is immaterial-either from the standpoint of a specially adapted supporting rollv arranged to support a blank having transverse irregularltles,

or from the standpoint of marking the backing roll in order to accurately place the blank -with reference to the design transferred from'the transfer roll onto the blank, whether the backing roll andy pattern roll are synchronized. It 1s important however, in the case of printing a blank whose surfaces are to be imprinted are not uniform and by reasonpof which frictional contact between the backing and transfer roll cannot be' depended upon to prevent relative slippage between the two rolls, that the 4transferroll and supporting roll be synchronized. i l

As shown, the shaft 36 which carries the roll 22 is su lported by bearing members 92 at either en thereof, (one being shown in Fig. 3), which bearing members are pivotally mounted on vertically movable bearing blocks 94 formed to comprise slide members suitably su ported by the side frame members 12 an 13,. As shown in Fig. 3, one of the bearin members 92 is pivotally connected to its slide block 94 by a pin 96 extending transversely of the axis of the roll'shaft 26, member 92 is suitably formed on its lower side to have a downwardly extending portion which accurately fits be- 4momes: 'y l V'tween upwardly extending' ears 94a on the slide block 94, whereby the axis of the work supporting .roll 22 will be maintained in a plane common to the axis of the transfer roll 21 while permitting the ends of the'work supporting roll shaft 36 to float in a vertical plane. Suitable means (not shown) may be provided for 1preventing longitudinal. shift- 1n of the ro 22 and its supporting shaft re ative to the bearings.

r:The work supporting roll is urged upwardly through the reaction of weight members 100 (one only being'shown) ldisposed at each side o'f the machine and attached to the bearing members 92 by cable stretches 101 which mayextend over pulleys 102 and 103 (Figs. 14 and 3). We Yalso provide an adjusting means in the form of screw members 104 (one being shown) in threaded engagement with ears on respective frame members 12 and 13. These screws adjustably limit the upward movement of respective slides 94 so as to leave a space between the transfer` and backing rolls suicient to the insertion of work of a given sizlefI is lprevents the roll 22 from contacting with the roll 21 and deforming it when /no work is being passed through the machine.

The means for driving the transfer'roll 1n synchronism with the backing roll wh1le p ermitting radial displacement of the backing roll axis at various angles to the axis of the transfer roll comprils, as shown a pair of `bevelled gears secure at the ends of the shafts ingY relation. The gear 81 is 'pinned onto a.

hollow sleeve 85 extendingthrough a bearin bracket rigid with the frame member 12, an the ear 82 is pinned Aonto a shaftsectlon 86 let whic as shown, is connected to the hollow member 85 through a shaft section 87. The shaft sections 86 and 87 are in turn connected by a universal joint 88. The section 87 1s splined to the hollow member 85 so as to always rotate therewith, but permit relatlve longitudinal movement between the members 87 and 85.

When the end of the roll 22 adjacent the gearing is lowered with reference to the roll 21 while leaving the other end of the roll 22 su stantially in its original position, the members 87 and 85 will tendv to separate and the shaft section 86 will incline with reference to the section 87 .i This inclination is rmitted by the universal joint 88, the earing member 92 being allowed to move somewhat transversely of the machine by reason of a loose connection with the slide block 94 at the in 96 (see slot 89) and a lsplined connection etween the shaft 36 and the gear 83 and bearin member 92. 1

fvitable means for applying pigment to cludes a the pattern roll is shown in Fig. 2. This infountain tray 50 and a -fountain roll 51 arranged adjacent the pattern roll 20. The fountain rolldips -into liquid pigment and transfers this to the pattern roll, there being a suitable drive shown as a belt 52 for causing the fountain roll to be rotated from the pattern roll shaft. Above the fountain roll is a doctor blade 42 contacting with the .surface of the pattern roll. This may be mounted to oscillate in the manner shown by our prior application Serial No. 134,807.,

I The reservoir for the ink fountain tray is pigment to flow preferably a tank shown at from which de` pends a conduit or pipe 66 which permits the from the reservoir to the fountain tray, as determined by the adjustment of the valve 67 in the pipe line 66. The

-fountain tray may be drained by any suitable means including an overiiow pipe (not shown) extending into the 'fountain tray.

Any suitable pump arrangement and pipe lines (not shown) may be provided for maintaining a circulation of pigment drained from the fountain tray in order to maintain a supply of pigment in the reservoir.

The transfer roll 21 may be cleaned during each revolutionthereof by a scraper blade 160, shown as pivotally mounted on a shaft 161 yieldingly urged into engagement with the surfaceA of the transfer roll by any suitable means, for example, gravity. The pigment scraped or removed by this blade 160 may be collected in a trough or tray 61, cleaned and used over again. Any suitable conduit means may serve to permit the pumpto collect the pigment 1n the trough and force it upwardly. to the reservoir 65.

We claim:

1. in a machine' ofthe class described, a transfer roll and a backing roll, the transfer roll being disposed between the other two rolls and in driving contact with the pattern roll, bearings for the backing roll and guiding means therefor arranged to permit the axis of the backing roll to be displaced either at 'an angle to or vin parallelism with the axis of the transfer roll, and a positive 4driving connection between the backing roll and one of the other rolls arranged to function irrespective of such displacement of the backing roll. v v

2. in a machine of the class described, a pattern roll, a transfer roll and a backing roll, the latter being for supporting a blank in contact with the transfer roll, a shaft for the transfer roll, a shaft for the backing roll,

.bevel gears carried on said shafts, respecdividual floating movement driving connection by the transfer roll and lings for the shaft individuali .versely of the axis of the s n portingA roll p 3. In a grainlng machine, a plurality of rolls, there being a pattern roll, a transfer roll and a resilient backing roll, vertically mov-` able bearing supporting members for the backing roll, the backing roll having a shaft and there being a pair of shaft bearings pivotally mountedv on the bearing supporting members to permit unequal raising and lowering of said members, the pivot axes being transverse drivingconnection between the said roll shaft and one of the other rolls whereby the connected roils are driven in synchronism, said connectionincludin relatively slidable shaft sections to permit e vertical movement of the bearings.

4. In a machine of the class described, a transfer roll and a resi-lient backing roll for to the axis of the shaft, a positiveA fer roll, a shaft for the backing roll, bearft, means for individually urging the bearing members in a direction-to cause movement of the backing roll toward the transfer roll, and a positive driving connection between the transfer roll and backing roll including two pairs of cooperating bevel gears and longitudinally extensible shaft sections, incorporating a universal joint.

5. In a machine of the character described, a pattern ltransfer mechanism, including a transfer roll, pigment applying means associated with sald mechanism and a backing roll disposed beneath the transfer roll, there being means for yieldingly sugportin the backing roll to thereby hold a b ank o nonuniform cross section in contact with the transfer roll, there being a'positive driving connection between the transfer roll and the backingroll;

6. In a machine in combination, a pattern transfer mechanism, including a transfer roll, a work supdivsposed beneath the 'transfer roll, means for yieldingl-y supporting the work supporting roll in such manner that the axis of theroll ma tilt with relation to the axis of the trans er -roll to enable the work supporting roll to maintain a blank of non-uniform cross sectionin printing contact with the transfer roll, there being means positively andfdrivingly connecting the transfer roll and work supporting roll to maintain movable transofthe character described,

lll() substantially identical surface speeds of thev two rolls in a plurality of relatively tilted positions, as aforesaid. y v

.7. Mechanism accordingto claim 6, wherein the Vwork supporting roll comprises a substantially solid core with a relatively heavy work 'contacting and supporting layer of yielding material, such as rubber.

8. Ina machine of the class described, pattern 'transfer means, including a transfer roll and a backing roll, thetransfer roll being dis osed operatively adjacent the backing ro bearings for the backingroll and l gmding the uns means therefor arranged to permit of the backing roll to be displaced either at the axis .of the transfe and a positive driving connection between the backmg r'oll andthe transfer roll arranged to function irrespective of such displaement of the back-I 1n roll.

n testimony tures.

` GEORGE E. LANG. LLOYD V. GASTO.

an angle to or in llparallelism with r ro whereof, we aiix our signa- 

